IUCN @ IMPAC4

The Fourth International Marine Protected Areas Congress, IMPAC4, is held in La Serena – Coquimbo in Chile from 4 to 8 September 2017. IMPAC4 Chile is organised by the Ministry of the Environment of Chile, IUCN and the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). A high-level meeting will take place on 9 September in Valparaiso, Chile.

Some 3.1 billion people rely on oceans for almost 20% of their animal protein intake. Photo: Fishermen in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

Photo: Valerie Batselaere

IUCN Green List booth at IMPAC4

Photo: Natasha Ali/IUCN

The Chilean Minister for Environment Marcelo Mena and IUCN team at IMPAC4 in Chile

IMPAC4 is being convened under the theme ‘Marine Protected Areas: Bringing the people and ocean together,’ underscoring the intricate nature of the ocean-human relationship and the benefits of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the ocean, for the many dependent on their ecosystem services. It is bringing together, among others, managers and practitioners of marine conservation to share knowledge, experiences and best practices on issues such as: MPAs and global change, including climate change and ocean acidification; MPAs and coastal communities, including empowerment of women, and development and economic growth; effective, successful management of MPAs, including sustainable development initiatives and finance for MPAs; and, MPAs and shared future visions, including marine spatial planning and youth-led collaborative action.

The high-level meeting brought together global decision makers, environment ministers and others to link the Valparaiso Declaration with Aichi Biodiversity Target 11(By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water, and 10% of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes) and Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life below water). ¹